Caps Corner

Shout outs from the fans

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Ok, It was bound to happen sooner or later; My first attempt at a slightly humoristic, slightly satirical, and slightly sarcastic commentary on the current news.

This weekend the US congress fought over the resolution of Obama’s version of a stimulus and fail-out, oops I mean bail-out, package. They finally came to terms cutting approximately 20% of the package.Here is a list of cuts; and my take on each…. Ba-da-boom !

Partially cut:• $3.5 billion for energy-efficient federal buildings (original bill $7 billion)> We all know the government is never efficient.

• $75 million from Smithsonian (original bill $150 million)> Come on, the Smithsonian is FREE!!!> That means it is one of the best economic> bang for the buck attractions around; even in a recession…

• $200 million from Environmental Protection Agency Superfund (original bill $800 million)> Well, if we are not going to make the government more efficient> and save energy, why do we need to protect the resources?

• $100 million from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (original bill $427 million)> NOAA? But I love all those great and colorful radar pictures,> satellite views, and long range forecasts. Not to mention> advanced warnings on hurricanes and other natural disasters!!!

• $100 million from law enforcement wireless (original bill $200 million)> 50% cut? Either this is the republicans attempt to make them> more efficient or congress does not have a clue.> Might as well have cut it all if you really don’t> want first responders to communicate.

• $300 million from federal fleet of hybrid vehicles (original bill $600 million)> Makes sense, see (EPA and Federal Building Cuts)…> Who cares about setting a good example…

• $100 million from FBI construction (original bill $400 million)> Well, if you are cutting wireless so they can’t “roam”> where are all these people going to sit?

Fully eliminated

• $55 million for historic preservation> Goes along with not protecting stuff…

• $122 million for Coast Guard polar icebreaker/cutters> Since we are not cutting emissions,> it’s all going to melt anyway…

• $10 million state and local law enforcement> Again with the first responders… Sheeesh.

• $50 million for NASA> This probably means one less astronaut….

• $50 million for aeronautics> Isn’t our fleet of planes getting old?> in need of repair and or replacement?> I thought building infrastructure was for Planes, Trains, and Automobiles…> Guess it’s just going to be Trains and Automobiles, oh wait…> Auto companies are going down the tubes..> Just Trains I guess.

• $50 million for exploration> Exploration of what?> Who needs to explore when we just cut NASA, NOAA,> Communications, Education and broadband delivery> for all the information we aren’t going to find out about…

• $50 million for Cross Agency Support> No wireless,> No buildings for agency workers,> OK already, we get the point

• $200 million for National Science Foundation> Exactly what do they do?

• $100 million for science> Again with the science.> Doesn’t matter,> We will not be going anywhere and exploring either.

• $1 billion for Energy Loan Guarantees> So more people will not be able to afford heat… Great!

• $4.5 billion for General Services Administration> Probably a drop in the bucket for them…

• $89 million General Services Administration operations> If you cut operations, you need less administrators…> (this almost makes sense!)

• $50 million from Department of Homeland Security> Again with the security and first responders…> and cross agency communication.> Hope no radical groups are looking at this list.

• $200 million Transportation Security Administration> Well, we already cut the planes and autos,> so all they need to watch are the trains…

• $122 million for Coast Guard Cutters, modifies use> With more water, aren’t they going to need more boats?

• $25 million for Fish and Wildlife> Guess in their minds,> more water = more room for more fish and more wildlife…

• $55 million for historic preservation> Wasn’t this the first thing cut?

• $20 million for working capital fund> Wouldn’t working capital help the economy?

• $165 million for Forest Service capital improvement> We already covered resource management…

1 comments:

You forgot to mention that the "$300 million cut from hybrid vehicle budget" is essentially a kick to the automakers while they are down. Keep in mind the US automakers were basically made to do tricks like a bunch of stray dogs when trying to get their bail-out, and part of the requirements were that they commit certain amounts and numbers to the industry of these hybrid vehicles. Keep in mind also that the US Government is a HUGE purchaser of vehicles from those Big 3. So the fact that they put some sales goals into that bail out, then the government itself is cutting what they wanted to spend on those cars, it's going to make it just that much harder for the Big 3 to live up to their end of the bargain.